scholarly journals Article Commentary: Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques: Genetic Relatedness, Gender Implications, and Justice

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuya Ishii ◽  
César Palacios-González
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Genetic Diagnosis ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Us ◽  
Child Centered ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Relevant Regulation ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Transfer Procedures ◽  
Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques

In 2015 the United Kingdom (UK) became the first nation to legalize egg and zygotic nuclear transfer procedures using mitochondrial replacement techniques (MRTs) to prevent the maternal transmission of serious mitochondrial DNA diseases to offspring. These techniques are a form of human germline genetic modification and can happen intentionally if female embryos are selected during the MRT clinical process, either through sperm selection or preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). In the same year, an MRT was performed by a United States (U.S.)-based physician team. This experiment involved a cross-border effort: the MRT procedure per se was carried out in the US, and the embryo transfer in Mexico. The authors examine the ethics of MRTs from the standpoint of genetic relatedness and gender implications, in places that lack adequate laws and regulation regarding assisted reproduction. Then, we briefly examine whether MRTs can be justified as a reproductive option in the US and Mexico, after reassessing their legalization in the UK. We contend that morally inadequate and ineffective regulations regarding egg donation, PGD, and germline genetic modifications jeopardize the ethical acceptability of the implementation of MRTs, suggesting that MRTs are currently difficult to justify in the US and Mexico. In addition to relevant regulation, the initiation and appropriate use of MRTs in a country require a child-centered follow-up policy and more evidence for its safety.

scholarly journals Reliability, Validity, and Gender Invariance of the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale: An Emerging Evidence for a More Concise Research Tool

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3516
Author(s):  
Stefan Koehn ◽  
Farzad Amirabdollahian
Keyword(s):  
Factor Structure ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Research Tool ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Gender Invariance ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Fit Index ◽  
Northwest Region

The Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS) research instrument has been extensively used to investigate the perceived benefits and barriers of exercise in a range of settings. In order to examine theoretical contentions and translate the findings, it is imperative to implement measurement tools that operationalize the constructs in an accurate and reliable way. The original validation of the EBBS proposed a nine-factor structure for the research tool, examined the EBBS factor structure, and suggested that various factors are important for the testing of the perception of exercise benefits and barriers, whereas a few items and factors may not be vital. The current study conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using hierarchical testing in 565 participants from the northwest region of the United Kingdom, the results of which provided evidence for a four-factor structure of the benefits measure, with the Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.943, Tucker–Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.933, and root means square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.051, namely life enhancement, physical performance, psychological outlook, and social interaction, as well as a two-factor structure of the barrier measures, with the CFI = 0.953, TLI = 0.931, and RMSEA = 0.063, including exercise milieu and time expenditure. Our findings showed that for a six-factor correlated model, the CFI = 0.930, TLI = 0.919, and RMSEA = 0.046. The multi-group CFA provided support for gender invariance. The results indicated that after three decades of the original validation of the EBBS, many of the core factors and items are still relevant for the assessment of higher-order factors; however, the 26-item concise tool proposed in the current study displays a better parsimony in comparison with the original 43-item questionnaire. Overall, the current study provides support for a reliable, cross-culturally valid EBBS within the UK adult population, however, it proposes a shorter and more concise version compared with the original tool, and gives direction for future research to focus on the content validity for assessing the perception of the barriers to physical activity.

Antitrust Regulation of IT Giants` Activities: Main Trends of Foreign and Russian Legislation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.V. Shram ◽  
Keyword(s):  
House Of Representatives ◽  
Network Effects ◽  
The United States ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Economic Concentration ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Antitrust Regulation

The article is devoted to the antimonopoly regulation of IT giants` activities. The author presents an overview of the main trends in foreign and Russian legislation in this area. The problems the antimonopoly regulation of digital markets faces are the following: the complexity of determining the criteria for the dominant position of economic entities in the digital economy and the criteria for assessing the economic concentration in the commodity digital markets; the identification and suppression of cartels; the relationship between competition law and intellectual property rights in the digital age. Some aspects of these problems are considered through the prism of the main trends in the antimonopoly policy in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Russia. The investigation findings of the USA House of Representatives Antitrust Subcommittee against Apple, Google, Amazon and Facebook are presented. The author justifies the need to separate them, which requires the adoption of appropriate amendments to the antimonopoly legislation. The article analyzes the draft law of the European Commission on the regulation of digital markets – Digital Markets Act, reveals the criteria for classifying IT companies as «gatekeepers», and notes the specific approaches to antimonopoly regulation in the UK and the US. The article describes the concepts «digital platform» and «network effects», presented in the «fifth antimonopoly package of amendments», developed in 2018 by the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation, and gives an overview of the comments of the Ministry of Economic Development regarding these concepts wording in the text of the draft law, which formed the basis for the negative conclusion of the regulator. It is concluded that in the context of the digital markets’ globalization, there is a need for the international legal nature antitrust norms formation, since regional legislation obviously cannot cope with the monopolistic activities of IT giants.

37. Sentencing

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Ashworth ◽  
Julian V. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Media Coverage ◽  
Sentencing Guidelines ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Political Criticism ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Sentencing represents the apex of the criminal process and is the most public stage of the criminal justice system. Controversial sentences attract widespread media coverage, intense public interest, and much public and political criticism. This chapter explores sentencing in the United Kingdom, and draws some conclusions with relevance to other common law jurisdictions. Sentencing has changed greatly in recent years, notably through the introduction of sentencing guidelines in England and Wales, and more recently, Scotland. However, there are still doubts about the fairness and consistency of sentencing practice, not least in the use of imprisonment. Among the key issues to be examined in this chapter are the tendency towards net-widening, the effects of race and gender, the impact of pleading guilty, the use of indeterminate sentences, the rise of mandatory sentences, and the role of the victim in the sentencing process. The chapter begins by outlining the methods by which cases come before the courts for sentencing. It then summarizes the specific sentences available to courts and examines current sentencing patterns, before turning to a more detailed exploration of sentencing guidelines, and of the key issues identified above. The chapter addresses two critical questions: What is sentencing (namely who exerts the power to punish)? Does sentencing in the UK measure up to appropriate standards of fairness and consistency?

Market volatility endangers moves to replace LIBOR

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Market Volatility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Loans ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Interest Rate Swaps ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Uk

Subject The transition away from LIBOR. Significance The London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) has been relied upon worldwide since 1970 for setting interest rates on syndicated loans, corporate debt, consumer loans, interest rate swaps and other derivatives. Following the 'LIBOR scandal' of 2008, the UK Financial Conduct Authority took over the regulation and administration of the rate, and no manipulation has emerged since 2013. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom and United States are determined to replace LIBOR. Impacts COVID-19 could prompt the US Fed to increase its support to the repo market, exacerbating fears that SOFR is not market determined. The scale and duration of COVID-19-related economic disruptions loom over banking sector profitability. Banks will struggle to balance immediate priorities triggered by COVID-19, and the need to devote staff and funds to the LIBOR transition.

FORMAL INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXTS AS OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS AT UNIVERSITIES — COMPARATIVE DATA FROM SWEDEN AND THE UNITED KINGDOM

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (05) ◽  
pp. 1069-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER LINDELÖF
Keyword(s):  
Technology Transfer ◽  
Transfer System ◽  
Science Parks ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Us ◽  
Institutional Contexts ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Historical Developments ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Similar Legislation

This paper identifies differences in institutional contexts (legislation) between Sweden and the UK and their effects on technology transfer policies. It then proceeds to examine how such activities are organized by universities. Empirical evidence from surveys conducted with technology transfer managers at eight Swedish universities and eleven UK universities gathered in Sweden and the UK during 2004 is analyzed. It is argued that the historical developments of these systems depend on different institutional contexts, which influence the modes of organization. The UK technology transfer system is based on similar legislation to that of the US, with IPRs being granted to the universities. The Swedish system, however, grants IPRs to the individual researchers, though with some new features — such as science parks and incubators — suggesting a change towards greater agent (university) involvement in encouraging technology transfer. This change indicates a breakthrough for the "entrepreneurial university" in Sweden.

scholarly journals A survey of working conditions within biomedical research in the United Kingdom

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 229
Author(s):  
Nick Riddiford
Keyword(s):  
Biomedical Research ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Career Stage ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
The Us ◽  
Toxic Environment ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Guardian

Background: Recent articles have presented a bleak view of career prospects in biomedical research in the US. Too many PhDs and postdocs are trained for too few research positions, creating a “holding-tank” of experienced senior postdocs who are unable to get a permanent position. Coupled with relatively low salaries and high levels of pressure to publish in top-tier academic journals, this has created a toxic environment that is perhaps responsible for a recently observed decline in biomedical postdocs in the US, the so-called “postdocalypse”. Methods: To address the gulf of information relating to working habits and attitudes of UK-based academic biomedical researchers, a link to an online survey was included in an article published in the Guardian newspaper. Survey data were collected between 21st March 2016 and 6th November 2016 and analysed to examine discrete profiles for three major career stages: PhD, postdoc and principal investigator. Results: Overall, the data presented here echo trends observed in the US: The 520 UK-based biomedical researchers responding to the survey reported feeling disillusioned with academic research, due to the low chance of getting a permanent position and the long hours required at the bench. Also like the US, large numbers of researchers at each distinct career stage are considering leaving biomedical research altogether. Conclusions: There are several systemic flaws in the academic scientific research machine – for example the continual overproduction of PhDs and the lack of stability in the early-mid stages of a research career - that are slowly being addressed in countries such as the US and Germany. These data suggest that similar flaws also exist in the UK, with a large proportion of respondents concerned about their future in research. To avoid lasting damage to the biomedical research agenda in the UK, addressing such concerns should be a major priority.

scholarly journals Nuclear Families: Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques and the Regulation of Parenthood

2020 ◽  
pp. 016224392093454
Author(s):  
Catherine Mills
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Jacques Derrida ◽  
Nuclear Family ◽  
Nuclear Families ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Egg Donors ◽  
Genetic Parenthood ◽  
Genetic Parents ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques

Since mitochondrial replacement techniques (MRT) were developed and clinically introduced in the United Kingdom (UK), there has been much discussion of whether these lead to children borne of three parents. In the UK, the regulation of MRT has dealt with this by stipulating that egg donors for the purposes of MRT are not genetic parents even though they contribute mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to offspring. In this paper, I examine the way that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act in the UK manages the question of parentage. I argue that the Act breaks the link typically made between genetic causation and genetic parenthood by redefining genetic causation solely in terms of nuclear genetics. Along with this, mtDNA is construed as a kind of supplement to the nuclear family. Drawing on the account of the supplement developed by Jacques Derrida, I argue that mtDNA and the women who donate it are seen as both essential to establishing the nuclear family but also exterior to and insignificant for it.

Conspectus in the United Kingdom

1989 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Matheson
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
British Library ◽  
National Library ◽  
Search System ◽  
Research Libraries ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Us ◽  
Subject Areas ◽  
The Uk

Conspectus started in the US where it is used as a means of distributing responsibilities by consensus within a group of research libraries. The main issues are the identification of Primary Collecting Responsibilities (PCRs) for subject areas and the identification of ‘endangered species.’ In the UK the British Library's programme and the Conspectus in Scotland programme have been completed and the National Library of Wales hopes to complete its own programme in 1989. Elsewhere in the UK the reaction to Conspectus has been generally cool. The British Library has created an online Conspectus search system which allows UK Conspectus information to be interrogated via a wide range of access points. Conspectus information may also have potential for identifying priorities for collaborative programmes for preservation and retrospective conversion. The Scottish group is now hoping to examine this area in some detail.

Overview of Ghana’s Export and Import, FDI inflow and outflow: Is there any connection between its trading partners and foreign investing countries?

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Evans Yeboah ◽  
Yu Jing ◽  
Anning Lucy
Keyword(s):  
Trade Deficit ◽  
The United States ◽  
Outward Fdi ◽  
Trade Surplus ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Us ◽  
Trading Partners ◽  
Balance Of Trade ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
The Uk

Foreign direct investment inflows and outflows, export and import are seen as some of the major factors for transforming a country’s economic growth and development. This paper provides and evaluates literature review on importation and exportation alongside inward and outward FDI in Ghana. By considering some selected countries such as China, India, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom in determining whether there is some sort of connection between Ghana’s trading partners and investing countries in its economy by the use of the quantitative method. The results show that Ghana’s export values have improved rapidly over the past years with a continuous decrease in its imports. The outcome further proves that, at the initial level, export from Ghana to China, India, the US, and the UK were of lower values and with much effort by the Ghana government to control the balance of trade deficit from these major trading partners is in the process of achieving the goal, as the country has been experiencing balance of trade surplus from China and India except in the situation the US, and the UK. It was also revealed that China, India, the US, and the UK are not only major trading partners but also among the top investing nations in Ghana. It is suggested that Ghana should increase its outward FDI and also encourages its multinational companies to embark on cross-border investment.

The use of pedigree estimates of genetic merit to predict progeny performance of Holstein Friesian bulls tested in the UK

1997 ◽  
Vol 1997 ◽  
pp. 26-26
Author(s):  
B.J. McGuirk ◽  
J. Smith ◽  
R. Mrode
Keyword(s):  
Pedigree Information ◽  
Progeny Testing ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
The Past ◽  
The North ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Uk ◽  
North American Type

Over the past 10 years, dairy breeding in the United Kingdom has switched from British Friesian to the North American type Holstein. Many of the bulls entering progeny testing in the UK in that period were sourced from overseas bull mothers, especially from the US. The aim of this study was to compare current predictions of the genetic merit of those bulls, using pedigree information, with the performance of their UK daughters.

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